Ballet B.C.’s board has given pink slips to 38 dancers, administrative, artistic, and contract staff.

In a news conference this morning, Ballet B.C. president Graeme Barrit said this decision was not taken lightly, and that the dance company will undergo a reorganization.

The board will continue with next month’s presentation of Nutcracker by the Moscow Ballet. Barrit emphasized that Ballet B.C. is not going out of business.

Later today, Vancouver city council will vote on a staff recommendation to approve a one-time theatre-rental grant of $63,400 to Ballet B.C. to help the company as it struggles with lower-than-expected ticket sales.

Earlier this year Ballet B.C. received a $151,800 theatre-rental grant from the city, in addition to a $103,000 cash operating grant, but had initially requested more.

In an interview with the Georgia Straight’s Jessica Werb yesterday, Barrit did not reveal the layoffs.

“Things are always tight with the arts,” Barrit said yesterday. “We’re just being cautious. Our ticket sales for the first couple performances were off our original plan and Nutcracker is as well, and we don’t want to get ourselves into big trouble.”

The Georgia Straight will have more on this story on Thursday (November 27) on-line and in its print edition.

>  with files from Jessica Werb